Ironmen

Remember when everyone thought Dale Murphy`s consecutive-game streak was over earlier this season. The Braves center fielder played in No. 714 Wednesday and this weekend should tie Ernie Banks at 717 for 12th on the all- time list... Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken has played in 658 consecutive games, 16th on the all-time list.

FORT LAUDERDALE—Between them, they've won the last four national championships. And for much of Friday night, Don Bosco Prep and St. Thomas Aquinas showed why they're two of the best, their defenses making big play after big play. But in the end, two costly special teams mistakes proved the Raiders undoing. A muffed punt recovered inside the Raiders' 5-yard line helped set up the go-ahead touchdown for the defending national champion Ironmen who escaped with a 20-10 win over St. Thomas.

Rocco Casullo may be getting used to this challenge of preparing for an out-of-state opponent, but that doesn't necessarily make it easier. A season ago, the first-year St. Thomas Aquinas coach was tasked with preparing his Raiders for a home game against De La Salle, a California power that plays more than 3,000 miles away. This time around, the opponent - Don Bosco - from Ramsey, New Jersey is on the same coast, but gathering information can still be tough, especially when the defending national champion Ironmen have only played one game.

Between them, they've won the last four national championships. And for much of Friday night, Don Bosco Prep and St. Thomas Aquinas showed why they're two of the best, their defenses making big play after big play. But in the end, two costly special teams mistakes proved the Raiders undoing. A muffed punt recovered inside the Raiders' 5-yard line helped set up the go-ahead touchdown for the defending national champion Ironmen who escaped with a 20-10 win over St. Thomas. The loss snapped St. Thomas 7-game win streak against out-of-state opponents and left Raiders frustrated especially after the St. Thomas defense played so well.

FORT LAUDERDALE—Between them, they've won the last four national championships. And for much of Friday night, Don Bosco Prep and St. Thomas Aquinas showed why they're two of the best, their defenses making big play after big play. But in the end, two costly special teams mistakes proved the Raiders undoing. A muffed punt recovered inside the Raiders' 5-yard line helped set up the go-ahead touchdown for the defending national champion Ironmen who escaped with a 20-10 win over St. Thomas.

Between them, they've won the last four national championships. And for much of Friday night, Don Bosco Prep and St. Thomas Aquinas showed why they're two of the best, their defenses making big play after big play. But in the end, two costly special teams mistakes proved the Raiders undoing. A muffed punt recovered inside the Raiders' 5-yard line helped set up the go-ahead touchdown for the defending national champion Ironmen who escaped with a 20-10 win over St. Thomas. The loss snapped St. Thomas 7-game win streak against out-of-state opponents and left Raiders frustrated especially after the St. Thomas defense played so well.

Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis shas had a sprained ankle, back spasms, torn knee cartilage, a broken wrist, stitches above the eye and a dislocated elbow. Kreis, Major League Soccer's Player of the Year for 1999, regards the injuries as a non-issue. He is among MLS ironmen in minutes played. "I do feel a certain amount of pride in this accomplishment," Kreis said. "I absolutely love this game, and I am a born competitor, so sitting out games is usually not even an afterthought." Kansas City Wizards defender Peter Vermes is the all-time minutes leader (11,977)

Once again, the St. Thomas Aquinas football team will line up against a top-notch, out-of-state foe. Thursday, athletic director George Smith confirmed the Raiders will host New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep in a game scheduled for Sept. 14. There's been plenty of Internet speculation about the game for weeks, but Smith would not comment on the potential matchup until a contract was finalized. That's finally happened and it's time for St. Thomas to start thinking about its matchup with the Ironmen, who finished the 2011 season as the nation's top-ranked team by ESPNHS, USA Today, PrepNation.com and MaxPreps.

FORT LAUDERDALE - They've played in “The Jungle” in Cincinnati and “The Horseshoe” at Ohio State. They've stomped a defending high school national champ in the refurbished New Orleans' Superdome that hosted a Super Bowl months earlier, and seen replays of themselves on the 72-foot tall video board at Jerry Jones' $1.2-billion Cowboys playground in Arlington. And they've rallied on the home field of a high school in Hoover, Ala., whose program was once the subject of an MTV documentary series and beat Tim Tebow's team in the first prep football game ever televised by ESPN.

Rocco Casullo may be getting used to this challenge of preparing for an out-of-state opponent, but that doesn't necessarily make it easier. A season ago, the first-year St. Thomas Aquinas coach was tasked with preparing his Raiders for a home game against De La Salle, a California power that plays more than 3,000 miles away. This time around, the opponent - Don Bosco - from Ramsey, New Jersey is on the same coast, but gathering information can still be tough, especially when the defending national champion Ironmen have only played one game.

Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis shas had a sprained ankle, back spasms, torn knee cartilage, a broken wrist, stitches above the eye and a dislocated elbow. Kreis, Major League Soccer's Player of the Year for 1999, regards the injuries as a non-issue. He is among MLS ironmen in minutes played. "I do feel a certain amount of pride in this accomplishment," Kreis said. "I absolutely love this game, and I am a born competitor, so sitting out games is usually not even an afterthought." Kansas City Wizards defender Peter Vermes is the all-time minutes leader (11,977)

Remember when everyone thought Dale Murphy`s consecutive-game streak was over earlier this season. The Braves center fielder played in No. 714 Wednesday and this weekend should tie Ernie Banks at 717 for 12th on the all- time list... Baltimore shortstop Cal Ripken has played in 658 consecutive games, 16th on the all-time list.

WEST POINT, N.Y. - St. Thomas Aquinas was eager to again play New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco Prep, the only out-of-state opponent it had lost to in the past six seasons. After Saturday's rematch at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y, St. Thomas might not want to see Don Bosco on its future schedules anytime soon. Wesley McKoy threw a pair of touchdown passes, Malik Bakker rushed for 123 yards and another score and Don Bosco's defense dominated as the Ironmen handled the Raiders 24-7 in a matchup of nationally-ranked teams at Army's historic Michie Stadium.